Sometimes I just like to post random scenes for you, little snippets of the agriculture-related activities that go on around here. Like this one: Marlboro Man and Josh had to move some pairs (cows and their calves) out of one pasture and into another. Here’s Marlboro Man with one of the pairs. He’s got to get them to go through the gate over to the right of the shot.

But for whatever reason—their past experiences with going through gates, negative things their ancestors told them about gates, nightmares they might have had involving gates—they do not want to go.

Finally, the cow and her calf did go out of the gate. But instead of turning and continuing down the road as she was told, the cow ran across the road and barelled straight through the fence on the other side, wiping it smooth out. Unfortunately, I had set down my camera for a moment in order to take a sip of coffee and rub my eye, so I missed the action. That’ll teach me to drink legalized stimulants.

It didn’t do the cow any good anyway, because when her calf followed her through the mangled fence, he got stuck. And most mama cows, this one included, will not run off and leave their babies caught in a mangled fence. So Marlboro Man used this to their advantage: he untangled the calf and allowed Josh to gently rope him.

Then Josh carefully coaxed the calf down the road, knowing his mama—being a cow and all—would follow him.

And he was right! It worked like a charm.

There’s just something so reassuring about these predictable, clockwork-like moments on the ranch.

143 Comments

Hi Ree! Reminds me of my uncle’s ranch stories about almost drowning in mud during a rainstorm, in connection with an experience with an angry cow…glad yours are much better behaved…perhaps more content?

It’s kinda sweet, when you think about it; the mama calf will follow her baby anywhere.

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pottermom On Friday, February 8 at 3:06 pm

The cow got off easy, she didn’t have to put the fence back up….. I remember wiping out a mile of fence with a truck loaded with hay to feed…. I was in 5th grade….. my brother (9 years older) laughed at me the whole way to the barn to get the tractor to pull the truck off the post it had high centered on….. I’ll never forget it…. it took me a whole day to put that four strand barbed wire fence back up. Unfortunately that wasn’t the worst of my fence experiences… I learned when I was 16 that tractors with front end loaders/tines and hay corral gates don’t mix…..

When I was about ten I can remember my brother outside in nothing but his underwear and a pair of cowboy boots armed with a broom trying to shew away a herd of cows that were mooing in the windows to the barn apartment he lived in at 3 am and it was raining cats and dogs… Apparently a cow was stuck in the mud somewhere in the pasture and they was trying to get help. I never knew cows would do something like that I thought maybe they was scared of the thunder..

We had something similar happen one time. We had a bull try to get to friskey with a mama cow who just wasn’t having it, and she pushed him through the fence. When she pushed him through the fence, it was into my backyard and my son and niece were standing in the backyard at the time. Needless to say there was alot of screaming involved from the kids.

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Shana On Friday, February 8 at 3:27 pm

When I saw that brahman cross cow… I knew it was going to be a fun gather! Its always those cows with their head high in the air with a calf by their side that makes a simple task so exciting. I dont know what it is about Brahmans, but they are either the sweetest cows on earth or wild and mean. Thankfully she wasnt mean. That could have been rough trying to untangle her baby while she tried to get them.

I had a crazy cow drop a calf in the sort pen. I come walking up to push them into the next pen and almost trip over the calf and realize she is going to kill me. We turned her out and carried her calf out under a tree. She headed up the mountain and never looked back. Poor calf became a bottle baby.

Whew, for a moment there, I thought we were going to have a “Legends of the Fall” moment where the calf gets stuck in the fence and beautiful, but troubled Tristan (Brad Pitt) puts a bullet through the cute little calf’s head…thank garsh you turned this puppy around!

We had two fincidents (fence incidents) lately. A steer tried to get friendly with one of the mares on the other side and she gave him what-four.

Then my weanlings got out of their pasture and reunited with their mommas, taking about 50 feet of fence with them.

Thank goodness for boys who can fix fence so I don’t have to.

46

Riah On Friday, February 8 at 3:39 pm

Ree– I recently found your blog and am in heaven. Growing up in Western S.D. and now living in Iowa I miss the open space. Today’s pictures of the empty gravel road, cowboy and cow/calf pair made me homesick.

The only thing that would totally squelch my homesickness would be pictures of “Cows in Snow.”

Not all mama cows are that protective of their babies. We have dairy cows and last spring one of the heifers calved in the pasture. We went out with the 4-wheeler to bring the baby to the barn figuring the mama would follow us (like the rest always do!). This one was stubborn so we took the calf with us and I went back to herd the mom in with my daughter (she’s 5). Well, that new cow didn’t get that she was supposed to go where I told her so she could see her baby. We went in circles for about 10 minutes and finally, in complete frustration, I yelled “Come on Stupid Ass!”. My daughter yelled “Yea, Stupid Ass, let’s go!”

I can so relate to this – our fence wiping events (I love the term “fincident” Redudamom!) are in relation to the cattle simply not seeing the fence at the moment… we have grass as tall as the wires and the steers and heifers just keep going (you’d think they’d notice?).

Got our boys to finally look at your blog PW (being Aussie ‘cowboys’) and they are mostly interested in why your men always wear chaps – no-one owns them here (except rodeo riders). Am sure they appreciated your pics too – they are the strong silent types though and were keeping their excitement on the inside.

The differences and similarities of our lives fascinate me. We are branding at the moment so will have to look that up on your site when I get a moment.

Riah On Friday, February 8 at 3:46 pm

I recently found your blog and it makes me homesick for western S.D. Your pictures of the empty gravel road, cowboy and the cow/calf pair make it more pronounced.

Your blog and the 13 acres of restored tall-grass prairie outside my kitchen window make Iowa (the land of corn and soybeans) livable. The sure-fire cure to my homesickness would be pictures of “Cows in Snow.”

51

Brandi in Ohio On Friday, February 8 at 3:46 pm

I love your every day ranch life post. It just makes me smile to see those cowboys working so hard, the chaps don’t hurt either.

Thanks for sharing…love the last shots of cowboy Josh leading the cow parade.

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Suzanne Lameraux On Friday, February 8 at 3:53 pm

This may sound dumb but weren’t you just covered in snow a few days ago? Just noticed that there is no snow. Does it really melt away that fast?

Clueless in FL,
Suz

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Sweeater On Friday, February 8 at 3:55 pm

Great pics! Thanks for sharing your ranch life, recipes, photos and the cowboys with us. I have no idea where you find the time, but I’m glad you do.

Ok I want to know what is up, I watched Oprah, I thought positive, actually visualized myself with the guitar in my hands, well after I gave it to my father for his 78th birthday. I was a rock star in my own mind. They say it works, think it and it will come. WHAT IS THE (SECRET)! Well I am happy for Connie, kinda….
Ok off to new thoughts, like the big bass I am going to catch in the tournament this weekend, Gal’s Big Fish, I can see it now, yep, im gonna do it. I just have to keep telling myself, If I think I can I can, If I believe it will happen it will. I know I can, I know I can, Woops sorry forgot that I was not alone in my thoughts… see ya later, Big Fish, Big Fish…Biggggg Fishhhhhhh

Man, have I been there and done that with a cow and calf and broken down fence!!!

And, I am commenting in the first 100 – some of us newbies set our sites a little more realistically than the old timers who have nothing to do than hit refresh waiting for the next chapter in the Love Story.

I think what happened is that she has a crap sense of direction and thought she as heading to the gate but turned left instead of right.

As she approached where she ‘knew’ the gate to be suddenly a whole load of wild creatures jumped out and started biting at her. Naturally she pushed to get past it all and make sure she and her baby got to safety.

So in fact it was an innocent error due to a directional lapse. You say she was Brahamn breeding? Obviously it was a Sthn Hemisphere mix-up thing.

63

Stacey On Friday, February 8 at 4:30 pm

You know, I’m supposed to be moving tomorrow. I’d really appreciate it if you’d quit posting! I have packing and directing and taking stuff apart type things to be doing. Not sitting here and noting in my RSS that you have yet another post today. Sheesh, woman. Think of the little people.

All with sarcastic tone. I’m really not feeling motivated right now and appreciate the diversion. :o)

Southern Gal On Friday, February 8 at 4:37 pm

Lisa in California On Friday, February 8 at 4:43 pm

Being city folk and all, I have a question and this is a serious question…not some joke. If the cow can just push through the fence anyway, why is it there? Or, should it be a stronger fence that you don’t have to worry about a cow plowing through? I mean, isn’t the point of a fence to keep someone/something in or out?

That is why I do not miss cows. . .but I love looking at yours. I grew up on a farm with only about 85 head, but they managed to get out ANY TIME we had something we needed to go and do. I spent long, hot hours walking hot wire fences to cut the weeds.

I will also admit that a lot of time, I am with the “un-cowed” in thinking what a beautiful, ROMATIC life this is. I then must harken back to the days of hotwire clearing, and I’m glad when you post the “reality.”

shai On Friday, February 8 at 4:48 pm

seeing all your cowboy photos makes me want to talk my dear husband into putting on a cowboy hat and rounding up some cows at his parents ranch in Oklahoma. They have a ranch hand that normally does the ranch work but maybe he could take the day off and let my dh have a go. -At least long enough for me to get some pics out of the deal….lol.(now get back to writing your story!)

Situations like this make me glad that my inlaws finally decided to retire and sold all the cattle last fall. Because when those guys and gals came through a fence – I am on the other side! Very nice photos as always – can’t wait for your photography blog!

I love your snippets. The things we mothers will do for our children eyh?

79

Alice On Friday, February 8 at 5:33 pm

Don’t feel bad about missing the action. We were on a cruise in Alaska last summer and I was standing with my video camera pointed in the opposite direction as a whale jumped up out of the water in full breach. On my video you can hear the excited oohs and aaahs, and after a a dizzying swing about there is some great footage of the splash AFTER the whale landed.
Poor mama cow, can you imagine the milk letting down as her calf bellowed in the fence? She probably had to walk the rest of the way with her arms pressed to her chest. Oh wait….that was me. Never mind.

You know what? Orkmommy is right. Not all cow moms are so protective. My dad did not take up cows until I’d left home…I remember getting letters from home detailing the miserable nights when a pregnant cow showed up at the barn no longer pregnant. A calf hunt would ensue. Much cussing was involved. Does that happen in your happy land?

83

Cece On Friday, February 8 at 6:04 pm

I love these pictures!! Momma cows are so protective. Thanks for sharing your life, Ree. I dream of living on a ranch with horses and cattle, but no chickens. (lol)

Can we please get more shots of cowboys and cowgirls riding, in action? I love those!

You need to take those coffee sweets with you when you’re out taking pics, so you don’t miss a single moment!
But gosh, y’all (P-Dub and commentators included) seem to need so much coffee to wake up! I’m immune to caffeine and lots of other substances. The only thing I can hope to get a mild buzz from in sugar. So the drinking coffee concept to wake up is a stranger to me.

Anyways, keep them action shots coming Ree!

88

midnacht On Friday, February 8 at 6:33 pm

Ooo i love cows and their calves. But i DONT love fences and putting them up again. Back in the olden days and i was young, i remember having to ride the fences on my Uncles Ranch. OMG!! I look back on that now days…and i dont know how i survived. or if i was just a dumb kid. We would be gone for up to a week. Those durn Colorado Elk would be knocking em down faster than we could get em back up. And let me tell you Colorado isnt flat like where you be. SO when it was time to move the Cattle from the lower pastures to the upper ones…It was off to check the fences.

One time the horses got away from camp. This was way before cells, not that cells would work up there anyways and your 20-25 miles from the ranch house. Your whole life tends to flash before your very eyes. Spring would have been ok. but it was late fall. Thank God Johnny the Cowboy was there. Cowboys gods gift to those of us who need them.

Oh! DO you have camels? My Uncle has this Camel named Humprey on his Ranch. Get a camel. Every Ranch needs a Camel.

Those “break away” moments were always the most fun. The neighbors had a Brangus bull that liked our girls better and would always jump the fence. Getting him out one time, he ran through several fences, and finally jumped out onto the highway in front of the house. Instead of going down the road in a frenzied panic, he jumped straight off the bridge into the swollen river below. We watched in amazement as he disappeared. That’s a whole lotta hamburger to watch go under 10 feet of water. When he finally came up, he took off running and we never saw him again!

Diana On Friday, February 8 at 7:32 pm

IF said such Momma Cow had not been so busy yesterday afternoon as to have missed the opportunity to share her most embarrassing moment, and IF that self same Momma Cow coulda toldja what that moment was, I am CERTAIN that the moment would have been the day she was tricked by Cowboy Josh to head over to the next pasture and NOT the night she (or, someone she knows, er, rather, doesn’t know, but would like to meet) sang an alchohol-induced solo while playing the organ at the big ole Catholic Church next to the school gymnasium whilst the basketball game was goin’ on and a handful of geriatric parishoners listened intently. Notice I did not say reverently.

Would you be offended if I told you what I liked best about this story were the fenceposts in the first two photos? the ones that are clearly a former section of tree? I had forgotten until I saw them, but that what fenceposts looked like when I was a kid on a Minnesota farm in the 1950s. Memories…